Chronicles of the forgotten

The library was silent except for the faint hum of energy that seemed to pulse through the air. Mara stood before a towering bookshelf, her fingers brushing the spines of the books. Each one felt alive, as if it were whispering secrets only she could hear. Her eyes landed on a book that seemed to glow faintly, its cover shimmering with an otherworldly light.

Eli stood a few steps behind her, his arms crossed and his expression tense. "Mara, we need to go. This place… it's not right."

But Mara couldn't look away. The book seemed to call to her, its glow intensifying as she reached for it. The title was barely legible, the letters etched in gold: *The Life of Thomas Greene.*

"Wait—" Eli started, but it was too late.

Mara's fingers closed around the book, and the moment she touched it, the world shifted.

---

The library vanished, replaced by a vivid, swirling scene. Mara stood in the middle of a bustling town square, the air filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting long shadows across the cobblestones.

In the center of the square stood a man—Thomas Greene. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face kind but weary. Mara recognized him instantly. He was the man they had met at the diner just that morning, the one who had warned them about the bookstore.

But something was wrong.

As Mara watched, Thomas began to change. His form flickered, his features blurring and shifting. His body shrank, his arms elongating into wings, his face sharpening into a beak. Within moments, he was no longer a man but a bird—a crow, its feathers glistening in the sunlight.

Mara's breath caught in her throat. "No…"

The crow let out a harsh caw and took flight, circling the square before disappearing into the sky. The scene around her began to dissolve, the colors bleeding together like watercolors in the rain.

*"Help me…"* a voice whispered, faint and desperate.

Mara turned, searching for the source of the voice, but the world was crumbling around her. The square, the people, the sunlight—all of it faded into darkness.

---

Mara gasped, jolting back to the library. The book in her hands was glowing brightly, its light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The whispers returned, louder and more insistent.

*"Find us…"*

*"Save us…"*

*"Before it's too late…"*

Eli grabbed her arm, his voice sharp with panic. "Mara, let it go!"

But Mara couldn't. The vision had been too vivid, too real. She could still see Thomas's face, his kind eyes filled with fear as he transformed into a bird. She could still hear his voice, pleading for help.

The book began to tremble in her hands, its glow intensifying. The pages fluttered wildly, as if caught in a strong wind. Then, with a sudden burst of light, the book disintegrated, its pages crumbling into ash.

Mara stumbled back, her hands empty. The whispers grew louder, overlapping in a cacophony of desperation.

*"Find us…"*

*"Save us…"*

*"Before he does…"*

The library seemed to come alive around them. The shelves shifted, their contents rearranging themselves with a sound like grinding stone. The air grew colder, the hum of energy intensifying.

Eli grabbed Mara's arm, his grip tight. "We need to leave. Now."

But Mara couldn't move. Her eyes were fixed on the spot where the book had been, her mind racing.

"What just happened?" she whispered.

Eli shook her, his voice urgent. "Mara, snap out of it! We need to go!"

Before Mara could respond, a shadow moved in the corner of her vision. She turned, her heart pounding.

The Watcher stood there, its glowing eyes fixed on her.

*"You have seen the truth,"* it said, its voice echoing as if from a great distance. *"But the truth comes at a price."*

---

Mara's breath caught in her throat. "What price?"

The Watcher tilted its head, its expression unreadable. *"Your soul. Or his."*

Eli stepped forward, his voice shaking but defiant. "We're not making any deals with you. Let us go."

The Watcher's gaze shifted to Eli, its glowing eyes narrowing. *"You have no choice. The Library has claimed you. The only way out is through."*

Before Mara or Eli could respond, the Watcher raised a hand, and the world around them shifted.

---

Mara and Eli found themselves standing in a dimly lit room, the air thick with the scent of ink and decay. A woman sat at a desk, her face blurred and indistinct. She was writing in a book, her hand moving frantically.

*"Help me…"* the woman whispered, her voice barely audible.

Mara stepped closer, her heart pounding. "Who are you?"

The woman looked up, her eyes wide with fear. *"I'm Sarah. I… I don't know how I got here. I just… I just wanted to remember."*

Mara's breath caught in her throat. "Remember what?"

The woman opened her mouth to answer, but before she could speak, the room began to dissolve. The walls crumbled, the air growing colder.

*"Find me…"* the woman whispered, her voice fading into the void.

Mara gasped, jolting back to the library.

Eli was shaking her, his face pale. "Mara! What the hell just happened?"

She blinked, disoriented. "I… I don't know. I saw someone. She was… she was trapped."

Eli's expression darkened. "We need to get out of here. Now."

But Mara wasn't ready to leave. Her eyes drifted to the book in her hands.

*Sarah Thompson.*

The name seemed to pulse with a faint light, the whispers growing louder.

*"Find us…"*

*"Save us…"*

*"Before he does…"*

---